Wednesday, January 3, 2007

The Little Orphan Annie House

This dollhouse was built and donated to the library. It resembles the house of Harold Gray which is located at 119 Main Street in Lombard. The house was built in 1881 for a man named Dr. William Leroy who made artificial limbs for the soldiers in the Civil War. It was then bought by Harold Gray in 1890. Harold Gray is the man who invented Little Orphan Annie in 1924. For those of you that don't know, Little Orphan Annie is the young girl who represents Ovaltine. This is one thing that connects Lombard to Villa Park. The town of Lombard is home to the house of Harold Gray, and Villa Park houses the Ovaltine factory. Along the wall next to the dollhouse is information for the public on Harold Gray, his house, and this dollhouse.

11 comments:

I like the Little Orphan Annie House! It reminds me of the dollhouse at the Harold Washington. The circus collection is cool too. It's interesting to see what kind of special collections that different libraries have.

"little, out of the way?" Pshaw Ms. Monica......While the great big City of Chicago might have a huge and oversized monstrosity in the Loop......many and most of the outlying and neighborhhod branches are far overshadowed by our Lombard library.

Even when the Plum Library might have been considered "little" (up until the replacement)it had the charm of being located in a Victorian mansion.....quite peaked my attention when studying there in the late 50s. Ditto, the Elmhurst library which is at least being rejeuvenated for other use?

Pity the Plum mansion couldn't have been kept to house the Lombard Historical Museum. Anyone out there know why?

Dona W........I have the complete kit that I have carried from place to place thinking that eventually I would be able to put the time in to make this beautiful house. Now I have a new grand-daughter coming and I think now is the time. :)

Hello i am lissia from sturgeon bayHarlod Gray was not born untill 1894 so he could not have bought the house his parents could have and they did buy the house possible in 1890. Ira l. Gray and Estella m. Rosencrans. I have recently bought a miniature replica of the house from a man in racine.

I have the complete instructions for the kit. I bought the kit many years ago at a craft store in Salt Lake City. Paid 200.00 for it then. Can imagine what it would cost now. It is over 30 inches high and about 36 inches wide. It's BIG! it is still partly done. I need someone to help me put it together. I'm 80 years young.

I have one that the boxes seemed to have been opened but it has never been assembled. i am wanting to sell it but unsure what to ask for it. I have saw the prices paid in the 80's. I was thinking around $200-$300 range. Any suggestions?

I have recently purchased this Little Orphan Annie Dollhouse. I would love to learn more about it and e-mail other owners and miniaturists. I bought it on Craigslist PHoenix. I live in Fountain Hills. Hope to hear!Rosemaryrosemary230520@yahoo.com